EVERTON defender Leighton Baines believes the club’s lack of finances has created the fighting spirit that has carried the Blues to the FA Cup final.

Everton have finished fifth in the Premier League, but without the financial muscle of the big four.

Now they aim to shock Chelsea, one of those super-rich top clubs, at Wembley in Saturday’s final.

Baines said: “There’s no big money here, no open cheque book. But that makes what we have achieved that bit more special.

“It has created a real bond between everyone because we have got so close to the top four and it is always against the odds.

“There has never been vast amounts to spend here. There are lads like Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert who have been here since they were kids, and it must give them immense pleasure to see how far the club has come on.

“Look back seven years and see what it was like when the manager (David Moyes) arrived. Now look at it. It is a fantastic job.”

He added: “The gap between us and the top four is very visible. But Arsenal have finished fourth and dropped away a bit from the other three, so we can see ourselves catching them.

“We need to add a few quality players to our squad now and see where that takes us. Breaking into that top four is hard, but it can be done and that’s what we are aiming for.

“We are fifth, we have reached a final. We want to be the next team outside the top four to be making a bid to break into that elite group.

“A trophy from this season will surpass everyone’s expectations, particularly with all the injuries we have had.